Hinged mounting brackets



Feb. 14, 1961 N. L. RANDALL 2,971,656

HINGED MOUNTING BRACKETS Filed Aug. 28, 1959 IN VEN TOR.

N054 E L E4/Vfl4 4 United States atht 2,971,666 mannerisms-11mins Noble L. Ranaa1|, m. 1,w1i=e1in Mo. Filed Aug. 28, msm si-ifioisssfln "z'ciaim's. omen-a6 This invention relates to hinged, .gs pring positiond mounting brackets for suchas electrical outlet boxes and the like, which are to be recessed in such as walls.

The primary object of the invention is-toiprovide simpler and more efiicient brackets of the kind indicated which render easier and quickerthe flush-mounting of such as outlet boxes, in a tightand thoroughly anchored manner, in openings-providedin such as: thin sheet rock, plaster and lath walls, without reference. to the presence or locations of studs.

Another object of the inventionis to i providetbrackets of the character indicated above which are iadjustahly securable, tosuch as outlet boxes, to iaccommodateithe brackets to "'securably engage the inner sides '.of 'walls of diiferent thickness, in opposition to elements on fixtures, such as receptacles engaged with the outer sides of walls, this adjustability of the brackets being independent of the hinging and the spring-positioning of the brackets.

A further object of the invention is to provide brackets of the character indicated above which are securable to outlet boxes by means of screws present on conventional outlet boxes, and which require no special or extra means for the purpose, and which, when in operative positions, are opposed to the plaster ears on the fronts of conventional outlet boxes, to securely clamp the wall between the ears and the brackets.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an outer or front elevation of an outlet box equipped with brackets in accordance with the present invention, the brackets being in extended operative positions, and showing an outlet receptacle, in phantom lines, engaged in the box;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, showing the outlet box installed in an opening in a wall, shown in phantom lines, the wall being clamped between plaster ears on the receptacle and brackets of the invention;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section through the box, showing the position of a bracket preliminary to full insertion of the outlet box through a wall opening. 1

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral generally designates a conventional open front electrical outlet box, having opposed vertical side walls 12, and opposed and parallel end or top and bottom walls 14 and 16, respectively, and a vertical back'wall 18 having canted upper and lower end portions 20 and 22, respectively, containing conduit admitting holes 24.

Threaded at 26, in central locations of the top and bottom walls 14, 16, are headed studs 28. Fixed to and extending laterally from the top and bottom walls, at and flush with the open front 30, are centered lugs 32, having mounting screws 33 threaded therethrough.

.Removably secured upon the external surface of the topjand bottom walls 14, 15, by means of the studs 28, are brackets 34 of the invention, which are similar in construction and are in arrangement on the top and bottom walls. Each bracket 34 comprises a fiat base plate 36, which, as'seen in Figure 3, is preferably of T-shape, havingqa standard portion 38 having a free inward or rear end 40 and havingon its outward or forward end'a cross head which is composed of two laterally elongated arms 42 which-are separated from each other by a longitudinal slot 44 -which extends into the standard portion 38. The arms 42 terminate, at their outer or forwardends in upstanding-hinge barrels 46 which are spaced, at their ends, from the slot 44 and the free ends 48 of the arms. A headed hinge pin 50 extends through (each hinge barrel 16 and reaches therebeyond to its side 48. An abutment dog in the form of a flat hinge leaf 52 of inverted U- shaped form, comprises a bight portion 54. and depending legs 56 which are wide as the hinge pins 50, and which have on their lower edges 53, hinge. barrels. 60, of the same width as the hinge barrels 46, through which the hinge pins "50 extend, the hinge barrels 69 being at Ithe outer ends of the hinge barrels 46, as .shown in Figures land 3.

The studs 28are passed through the base plate. slots 44 and threaded into the outlet box 10, with their heads 62 bearing upon the exposed sides of the base plate 36, for mounting the brackets 34. The provision of the slots 44 enable the brackets 34 to be adjusted on the box to accommodate the brackets to walls of different thicknesses. The dogs are biased away from the base plate 36 by Suitable spring means, such as coil springs 64 which are circurnposed on the hinge pins 5%, between the dog hinge barrels 69 and the heads 66 on these pins. The springs 64 have first tangential outwardly or forwardly extending arms 68 which bear upon the exteriors of the box walls, and second lateral arms 76 which extend forwardly through holes 72 provided in the dogs 52 and have longitudinal portions 74 which bear against the outer or forward sides 76 of the dogs 52, the springs being tensioned to swing the dogs 52 from depressed reclining positions, as shown in Figure 4, to erect operative positions, shown in Figures 1 to 3. The dogs 52 are stopped in erect position by lugs 78 which project rearwardly from the hinge barrels and engage the base plate 36. The outlet box 16, equipped with brackets 34 of the invention, as installed in an opening 86 in a wall 82, the opening 80 being slightly larger than the box 10 to clear the lugs 32 and pass the brackets 3 -5, by inserting the box 10 part way into the opening 8i), with the bracket dogs 52 depressed, as shown in Figure 4. The wires to be connected in the box and then fished from the wall and passed into the box through the holes 24, whereat the box 10 is pushed through the opening 89 only for enough to permit the dogs 52 to move to erect positions behind the wall 82. The box It is then pulled forwardly so as to bring the erected dogs '52 against the rear or inner side of the wall 82, and the wires connected to the desired fitting, such as a switch or outlet receptacle 84, and the screws 33 are passed through the plaster cars 86 and threaded through the lugs 32, so that the ears S6 bear against the outer or front side of the wall 82, with the dogs 52 opposed to the cars 86 to clamp the assembly to the wall. 1

Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto. 7

What is claimed is:

1. An 'outlet box having an end wall and an open front, said end wall having a laterallug thereon" at said open end, a bracket comprising a base plate having outer and inner ends, a dog hinged on the outer end of the base plate to swing between a forward depressed position and an erect operative position, spring means biasing the dog toward a fixed erect position, means for stopping the dog in its erect position, and means mounting the base plate to the exterior of the box end wall in inwardly spaced relation from said lug, said mounting means comprising a slot extending in said base plate between its outer and inner ends, and a stud extending through the slot and threaded into the box and wall, said base plate being T-shaped and having a standard portion in which said slot extends lengthwise, and a cross head composed of two laterally elongated arms, separated by said slot, said J lugs. on the second hinge barrels to engage the, base plate in the'erect position of the dog.

' 2. An outlet box having an end wall and an open front, said end wall having a lateral lug thereon at said open end, a bracket comprising a base plate having outer and inner ends, a dog hinged on the outer end of the base to between a forward depressed posi- -----='-tion and -an'ereet operative position, spring means biasing the dog toward a fixed erectfposition, means for stopping the dog in its erect position, and means mounting the a base plate to the exterior of the box end wall in inwardly spaced relation from said lug, said mounting means comprising a slot extending in said base plate between its outer and, inner ends, and a stud extending through the slot andthreadedinto the box end wall, said base plate being 10 T-shaped and having a standard portion in which said slot extends lengthwise,,andya cross head composed of two laterallyclongated arms, separated by said slot, said I arms having free'ends and outer edges, first hinge barrels I on said outer edges,.sa id dog having second hinge barrels 15 related to said first hinge barrels, hinge pins extending through related first and second hinge barrel s, said dog being a fiat U-shaped plate having a bight portion and spaced depending legs, said legs having lower edges carryin; said's'econdhinge barrels,said stop means being lugs 20 on the second hinge'barrels to'engage the base plate in the'erect position of the dog, said spring means being a coiled spring circumposed on a hinge pin and having a first arm bearingupon the exterior of the box end wall and a second ar n engaged with the dog.

*l teierences Cited in the file of this patent V i UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 876,187 Hornsby Jan. 7, 1908 30 1,818,317 Gilmore Aug. 11, 1931 1,957,003 Selen' May 1, 1934 2,867,344

Niokell Ian. 6, 1959 

